Have you fallen out of love with your current office phones? Maybe it’s that you’re tired of getting no help from the phone company when you experience issues. Or it could be that you have phones with too little capabilities for your growing business. Whatever the reason for your dislike of the current phone system, you may want to think about switching to top-of-the-line phones backed by a team that will provide help and service whenever it is needed.

ITS partners with 3CX to provide an IP Phone system that’s backed by our responsive, well-trained team. Our team provides the training you need to be able to successfully operate your phones. Best of all, you’ll experience minimal down-time and a smooth transition to your new phone system.

What is a PBX phone system?

A PBX phone system is a private telephone network that can be used within an organization. PBX phone users can make calls within their company or organization as well as make calls outside of their company or organization using a combination of different communication channels. With PBX phones, the amount of phone lines you have doesn’t limit you to the amount of phones you can have in your office. Furthermore, since IP phones can not only be connected through the local computer network but also via the internet, multiple office locations can be connected.

An IP PBX phone system offers many benefits to save you time. First, since PBX phones are internet and cloud-based phones, you won’t have to worry about downtime during a disaster because your phone system is hosted on the cloud. Yet another advantage to these phones can also be attributed to their cloud-based nature. Gone are the days of being tied down to your desk phone. With the 3CX mobile app and WebClient, you can make calls from anywhere. Whether your team members are on the road, out of the state, or working from home, you can still collaborate. You can even host conferences with clients or colleagues on the 3CX WebClient, saving you time and money.

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If you’re interested in learning more about the difference our IP phones can make in your company or organization or would like to hear more benefits of adopting these phones in your office, please call our team at ITS. We are always happy to answer your questions or provide further information.

More online information about the IP phones we provide can be found here: IP Phone Systems

The month of January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month! With your busy schedule, it may seem hard to find time to do this. Surprisingly though, cleaning up and organizing your computer can actually save you a lot of time once it’s organized.

Little by little, your computer can get bogged down and operations may take a little longer than they did when the computer was new. Having a full or nearly full hard drive can cause your computer to slow down, making simple tasks take much longer to perform. The fairly simple task of cleaning your computer can result in a computer that runs much faster, which will ultimately increase your productivity.

Clean the exterior of your computer

First, completely shut down and unplug the device. Next, use a soft cloth like a microfiber cloth to clean and scrub the outer casing of the computer. Water is the best thing to use for cleaning. Be careful not to get an excess about of liquid on/in the ports of the computer.

For the screen, start by using a dry cloth and wiping down the whole screen. After this, you can use a cloth dampened with water. Make sure the cloth you’re using is just damp. You don’t want it to be too wet and risk getting water where it shouldn’t be. If you need something stronger to get it clean, make a 50:50 mixture of water and vinegar. Using stronger chemicals isn’t recommended.

Most likely, your keyboard looks like it could really use a clean. Unidentified crumbs seem to always appear there without any knowledge of how they did. Before you hit the keyboard with an alcohol-based cleaner, be sure to use a can of compressed air to blow the crumbs and dust out. After you have completed this task, get some isopropyl alcohol and dampen a cloth with it. Wipe this over the surface of the keyboard. Be sure to use alcohol because it evaporates quickly. Use cotton swabs (like Q-tips) and wipe between each key. Make sure to get the cotton swab just damp enough to clean- don’t drench it. After this, you’re ready to clean the interior of your machine.

Delete files you no longer need

The first step to cleaning out what is stored on the machine will perhaps be the most time-consuming step. To make this step as worth-your-time as possible, start with the large files. Many computers come with pre-installed programs that you may never use. Delete these. If you’ve never used them before, there is not really a point in keeping them.

Windows has an easy way to do this. In the Settings app, click on System, then click Storage. From here, you are able to see which files are taking up the most space and delete what you no longer need. Within the Settings app, click on Apps & Features. From here, you’re able to find and delete apps and programs you don’t need.

For Mac, simply click the apple icon in the upper left corner and select About This Mac. From here you can identify items you would like to delete by clicking on the Storage tab, then the Manage button. Additionally, Mac has a Reduce Clutter option that you can utilize. This feature will make recommendations about which files you should delete based on what you haven’t accessed in a while.

For both systems, you can also manually find large files in the File Explorer/Finder menus and sorting the files by size with the largest files appearing at the top of the window. From here, delete the large files you no longer need.

Organize your files

Once you have have all of your unwanted files deleted, it’s time to start organizing the files you have left. It is hard to find files when they are unorganized and that can end up wasting a lot of your valuable time. Start by creating folders to house files. You can create folders inside folders, inside folders for the sake of organization. Folders with little content and titles that explain what is inside is the most convenient way to find the specific file you’re looking for.

On a computer with Windows 10, the quickest way to create a new folder is with the CTRL+Shift+N shortcut. Before using this shortcut to create a folder, first navigate to where you would like the new folder to exist. This can be anywhere on your computer’s hard drive, and even within another folder to create a subfolder. After holding the aforementioned keys on the keyboard down all at once, you will create a new folder in this location. Be sure to rename the folder (from it’s given name, “New folder”) to something that makes sense based on the content of the file.

The method for creating a new file folder on Mac is similar. However instead of using the CTRL key, use the Command key.

Organize your emails

When your junk mail, important mail, and everything else is all heaped together in your inbox, it can be difficult to find a particular email that you may be searching for. To make this easier for yourself and save some of your valuable time, you can organize your emails.

If you’re using Microsoft Outlook for your email, you can create as many folders to organize emails as you wish. To optimize organization and time-saving, make sure each of these folders has a clearly identifiable name.

Similar to Microsoft Outlook, you can also create “folders” in Gmail. In Gmail however, these “folders” are called “labels.”

Delete cookies

When you use a web browser, cookies are collected and stored in the form of files on your computer. These cookies store information on your activity and are meant to improve your experience. If these cookies remain uncleared, they can take up space on your computer and cause some websites to malfunction. Because of this, it’s beneficial to routinely go into your browser settings and delete cookies. The process of deleting the cookies depends on which browser you’re using.

Google Chrome

To clear cookies in Google Chrome, find the menu button in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window. Once that menu is open, hover over More tools, then click Clear browsing data. From here, make sure you have cookies selected to clear. You can check/uncheck the other boxes as you desire. If you would like to manage cookie data going forward, go to Chrome’s Settings>Site Settings>Cookies. From here, you have the option for your browser to save or not save cookie data, and/or decide how you would like it to be saved in the future. You can also designate specific instructions for allowing or blocking cookies on specific websites.

Firefox

To clear cookies from Firefox, select the Firefox menu, then Options, then Privacy & Security. Next, scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section. From here, you are able to select the option to clear cookie data.

How to clear cookies in Safari

To clear cookies from Safari, go to the Safari menu, click Preferences then Privacy. Here, you have the option to Block all cookies if you wish to do so going forward. However, keep in mind that some websites need to use cookies in order to perform correctly. In order to simply clear the cookies that are currently stored, click Manage Website Data. From here, you can manually select which websites you would like to delete cookies for, or you can Remove All.

Empty your recycle/trash bin

It’s easy to forget to clear files from the recycle or trash bin once you’ve cleared them from other locations. When items remain here, they are not really gone. They are still taking up space on the computer’s hard drive and actually deleted.

The instructions on how to do this on Windows and Mac are basically the same. For Windows, locate the recycle bin icon on your desktop. For Mac, locate the trash icon in the dock. From here, right click your respective icon and select Empty Recycle/Trash.

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Finally, after clearing out all of your unwanted stuff and emptying the trash/recycling bin, reboot your computer. You’re now finished! Enjoy your clean computer!

It is no secret that AI for your home is becoming more and more popular as more tech giants enter the world of smart speakers. The list of things that you are able to accomplish with smart speakers is already very long, and that list keeps growing. You can integrate your smart speaker into almost any part of your life.

Amazon, the early pioneer of smart speakers, offers many Echo products that do a wide variety of tasks. These include smart speakers; Echo for your car; Echo Frames, eyeglasses with Alexa; Echo Loop, a smart ring with Alexa; and countless Alexa-compatible devices like plug-ins; light bulbs; surveillance cameras; Fire TV Stick, a device to give your TV smart capabilities; thermostats; smartphones and countless others.

Echo’s features can help you make it through your day with it’s many features. Its features could potentially encompass many areas of your life including communication and entertainment. It enables you to have a smart home, helps you shop, be productive and more.

Communication

Echo enables you to communicate with any room in your house through Alexa. You can “Drop In” to open an instant 2-way conversation with someone in a different room than you, and make announcements across all of your Echo devices. You can even call or send messages to anyone. If someone you know has an Echo device too, you can call them over their Echo and even make video calls to people with an Echo Show.

Entertainment

If you can’t get a song out of your head, why not listen to it? If you’re cooking, cleaning, or maybe just lounging, you can tell Alexa to play it. You don’t have to have a dance party alone though. Ask Alexa to play everywhere and all of your Echo devices throughout your house can play the same song. You can also tell Alexa to play a specific podcast you have been listening to, or read you a book from Audible or Kindle. For the TV show and movie lover, you can ask Alexa to launch your favorite streaming service and play a movie. If you’re alone and need someone to talk to, try out Alexa. You can have her tell you a joke or you can play a game with her.

Smart Home

You can have Echo with Alexa control anything in your home from your heating and air conditioning, cameras, lights, doors, coffee maker, or maybe a Christmas tree this holiday season.

You’re able to dim or change the color of the lighting in your home with smart bulbs or turn on/off lights, your Christmas tree, TV, coffee maker, or just about anything you plug in with smart plug-ins. You can also use smart switches to control lights in your room, but these take a little more time installing.

You can tell Alexa to show you a live stream from one of your (Alexa-enabled) cameras on your TV with a Fire TV stick installed, or over your Echo Show device.

Alexa is able to be programmed with your regular routines. For example, if you’re leaving the house for the day, you could program Alexa to shut off your music, coffee maker, and lights by saying something like, “Alexa, I’m leaving.” Similarly, you could program Alexa to turn on your Christmas tree lights, holiday decorations, and play holiday music when you say something like, “Alexa, make it festive.”

Productivity

Your productivity can be increased with an Echo device. As aforementioned, you can program Alexa to do tasks and routines for you. This can make it quicker for you to get ready in the morning, leave the house, or make supper. You can link your email and calendar and ask Alexa to check your emails, show your events for the day, set an alarm for you to wake up, a timer to remember to switch the laundry, or make a calendar event to meet a friend for lunch on Saturday.

You can also make lists on Alexa such as a shopping list, to-do list, or you can create your own. Items can be added to your lists using your voice, then you can view/delete items on your phone in the Alexa app. This is handy to keep track of what you need to pick up at the store. You don’t need to remember to bring your grocery list with you to the store because you can see it on your phone.

Shopping

Of course, Alexa makes it easy to spend money on Amazon. When you’re running low on essentials like toilet paper, paper towels or dog food, you can just tell Alexa to re-order what you have purchased in the past. If you haven’t ordered the specific product in the past, you can tell Alexa to search for what you need and she will give you options. After you place an order on Amazon, Alexa can tell you where your packages are or if they have been delivered.

More

With skills, you can personalize what your Echo device can do. Skills are like apps for your Echo device. You can get skills on your Echo like Jeopardy, or Harry Potter Trivia, rain sounds, or your favorite news station. Skills make your Echo device unique to you.

There are many smart devices that can work together to make your home smart and allow you to do a number of things just by using your voice. When purchasing smart devices, it’s important to consider your options. Amazon offers many options, there are also other options from Google and Apple and other technology companies. With smart devices, you need to choose a “team.” If you are going to get an Amazon Echo, I’d recommend that you have all of your other products also be Amazon Echos, and not Google, for example. Smart devices work better together when they are connected with each other and can communicate.

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Smart home devices can be useful in your every day life. With a smart speaker, you are able to do all the things mentioned in this article, and even more. Smart speakers are truly customizable to fit your individual needs. Your smart home is yours to customize and build just the way you like.

New laptops can make all the difference in the productiveness of employees. Sleek, modern laptops inspire productivity as they are enjoyable to use and have many features that make collaboration a breeze. Smarter interactions result in a more positive employee experience, and this is translated to your customers. Our sales managers can help you find the laptop that fits your computing needs. Listed below are some of our most commonly sold models.

Lenovo Models

Lenovo Think Pad T590

Size:	15 inches
OS:	Windows 10 Pro
Keyboard:	Numeric keypad and backlit keyboard*
Features:	Rapid Charge, ThinkShutter, Touch Fingerprint Reader Login
Touchscreen:	Optional
Dimensions:	14.4″ x 9.76″ x 0.75″
Weight:	Starting at 3.87 pounds

*backlit keyboard available on touchscreen version only

Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Laptop

Size:	14 inches
OS:	Windows 10 Pro
Keyboard:	Backlit keyboard on some models*
Features:	Touch Fingerprint Reader integrated with power button, wide-angle viewing, physical camera cover
Touchscreen:	No.
Dimensions:	12.7″ x 8.77″ x 0.65″
Weight:	Starting at 3.35 pounds

*backlit keyboard not available on standard model

Lenovo ThinkPad P53

Size:	15 inches
OS:	Windows 10 Pro
Keyboard:	Backlit keyboard and Numeric keypad
Features:	ISV certification from all the major vendors, ThinkShield, ThinkShutter, Fingerprint Reader
Touchscreen	Optional
Dimensions:	14.9″ x 10″ x 0.96″
Weight:	Starting at 5.51 pounds

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga

Size:	14 inches
OS:	Windows 10 Pro
Keyboard:	Backlit keyboard
Features:	2-in-1 laptop with 360° hinge, Rapid Charge, ThinkPad Pen Pro, PrivacyGuard, PrivacyAlert, ThinkShutter, ThinkShield
Touchscreen:	Yes
Dimensions:	12″ x 8.5″ x 0.59″
Weight:	Starting at 2.99 pounds

Descriptions of Lenovo Features

ThinkShield:	A combination of hardware and software that work together to ensure what’s on your display is for your eyes only.
Rapid Charge:	Charge battery up to 80% in just 60 minutes and keep moving.
PrivacyGuard:	Electronic privacy filter built into your system that decreases the angle of vision on your display so only you are able to view it.
PrivacyAlert:	An integrated software that works with the IR camera to ensure that if others look over your shoulder, a pop-up notifies you of the potential threat.
ThinkShutter:	A physical camera cover which blocks the lens to ensure that you’re only seen when you want to be.
ThinkPad Pen Pro:	This pen is stored in the ThinkPad X1 Yoga in a dedicated pen slot where it will recharge when it is stored. Once charged, it will give the user 130 minutes of active use.

Lenovo: Setting a High Standard

Lenovo performs Mil-SPEC testing on all of their devices. Mil-SPEC is a set of standards designed to test durability, ruggedness, and reliability. These tests cover extreme environmental variables including temperature, pressure, dust, humidity and vibration testing.

Lenovo exceeds these standards in all ThinkPad models, including all X & T series. These devices have successfully passed and exceeded Mil-SPEC standard tests.

Humidity:	91-98%
Low Temperature:	Storage at -13°F for 24 hours Operation at -6°F for 8 hours
High Temperature:	Storage at 145.4°F for 24 hours Operation at 109.4°F for 8 hours
Sand & Dust Test:	140 mesh silica dust for 6 hour cycles and silica sand for 90 minute cycles
High Vibration:	Tested while running and turned off
Mechanical Shock:	High acceleration and repeated shock pulses over 18 times
High Altitude:	Tests operation at 15,000 feet while running
Temperature Shock:	Performs in temperatures oscillating between -13°F and 140°F over 3 cycles of 2 hour duration
Solar Radiation:	Simulated UV radiation over 7 x 24 hour cycles
Fungus:	28 days with common fungus sources

Other Popular Models

Windows Surface Pro 7

Size:	12.3 inches
OS:	Windows 10 Pro
Keyboard:	Backlit keyboard*
Features:	Write and draw naturally on screen with Surface Pen. Transforms from tablet to laptop with built-in Kickstand and removable Type Cover**
Touchscreen:	Yes
Dimensions:	11.5″ x 7.9″ x 0.33″
Weight:	Starting at 1.70 pounds***

*Surface Pro Signature Type Cover includes backlit keys

**Type cover sold separately

***Does not include weight of Type Cover

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Contact the sales department at ITS today to place your request for an order, or speak to one of our sales managers if you would like help deciding the best laptop to fit your needs.